4 comments about Lonely Planet Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya, Seventh Edition.

1. This latest edition of Stan Armington's guide to trekking in the Nepal Himalaya (note the lack of an "s", as in "Sierra") provides a panoply of information for both the trekker and the armchair traveler. First traveling to Nepal in the mid-sixties, Mr. Armington has lived there since 1971. He has been in the business of organizing treks longer than almost anyone. He knows the country and the people and writes from a wealth of first-hand knowledge.

   Whether one treks solo (not recommended, really, but certainly possible) or with a trekking company, this informative book provides ALL the information one needs to have a successful, delightful, and authentic trekking experience in this ancient and remote kingdom. (Nepal is a Hindu kingdom, with a Hindu king.)

   As Mr. Armington acknowledges, trekking is neither a walk in the country nor a climbing experience. Hence, he goes into great detail to prepare the adventurer for what will for most people be one of the major vacationing events of their lives.

   Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world. A visitor must know how to take care of oneself and also how to have a minimal impact on the environment and social structure. Mr. Armington covers all these matters excellently.

   The trekking routes are there, too, almost all of them walked--and measured (with a GPS)--by the author to ensure complete accuracy.

   Armchair travelers will enjoy the color pictures and the descriptions of the land and its people. Travelers and trekkers will want to devour the information, basically cover-to-cover.

   For someone planning a trek to the Nepal Himalaya, this book is an absolute essential. It should be used through all stages of planning and carried in the rucksack on the trek. It's that good, and that necessary, and that complete--a distillation of a adult lifetime of experience in the region by a world-reknown travel professional--in a word, a real bargain.

   Michael Slaughter Pacifica, Calif., USA




2. I bought it when I was planning to travel to Nepal. Unfortunately, I couldn't go, but the informations on the book helped me a lot to get in contact with nepali culture and details about trekking in this interesting country.



3. I've used this book for 2 treks in Nepal and it was a disappoinment (the book, not the treks). As mentioned above, the book provides a plethora of trekking essentials (preparation, etc.) and background info. To use it as a guide on the actual trail is altogether another matter.

   The maps are too general and is NOT suitable for actual guidance. The suggested itinerary varies too greatly for the average trekker. Some suggested trekking days that are way too difficult to complete or way too short. Things are changing quickly in Nepal...and the book does not keep up with this adequately.

   I've meet many people on the trail that were also dissapointed in the misinformation regarding festival dates. The Nepalese use a lunar calendar so it is easy to see why the dates can be off from year to year. It is unfortunate if someone plans their vacation by this. There are too many misleading information here...and for a foreigner/tourist/traveller/trekker, this can prove disappointing and costly.

   Take it from someone who's been there, use this book to entertain yourself, not to trek with.




4. this book was a great help in introducing me to the world of trekking, in terms of all the equipment i would need and the things i could expect while on a trek in nepal... it made the idea of trekking in nepal very feasible to me, and gave me confidence... but once i started trekking in nepal, i only used it as a light reference, mainly to look at the maps and see how far along i was on the trek, and perhaps to gain some information about the areas i was going through... as the author states, the suggested itineraries are not absolute, and, according to how much time and money you have, should only be used as a reference; some suggested days were too long for my group, and on other days we trekked longer distances than suggested... it's not every year you get to go to a place like nepal, so i suggest you give yourself plenty of time to enjoy your trek, take some extra rest days, and not make your trek a race...i needed more money than what this book suggested i would need; prices change... and also, especially on the annapurna trekking route, many lodges are being built every year and it's impossible for guidebooks such as this to keep up; i often thought it unfair for books like this to name specific lodges, while other lodges, some of them new, with better food and people, go unmentioned; talking with guides, porters, or other trekkers would be a good way of finding quality lodges... i think this book does a very good job of preparing you for a trek in nepal, but once you're there, keep your mind open for other sources of information, and use this book as a reference guide and not your one and only trekking "bible"... you'll get more out of your experience in nepal that way...

No comments about Through the Heart of Asia: Over the Pamïr to India. With 250 Illustrations by Albert Pépin. Volume 2.

1 comments about A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms: Being an Account by the Chinese Monk Fa-Hien of His Travels in India and Ceylon (A.D. 399-414) in Search of the Buddhist ... of Discipline (Translated By James Legge).

1. This book is a travelogue, compiled by a medieval Chinese monk named Fa-Hien, who travelled through Central Asia and India, and ultimately to Sri Lanka, in about the years 399 to 414 A.D. I only know this from reading the back of the book, but evidently it's one of the principal sources of information today, for people who want to learn about ancient/medieval Indian Buddhism.

   The author's journey took him through the outlying regions of Tibet, and then through what today is Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India, and Sri Lanka. Throughout the narrative, he tells stories about local variations on Buddhist practice, such as festivals, rituals, folklore about legendary visits by the Buddha, and the like. This is what you should read this book for. There are a lot of names and terms to cope with, so be prepared for that. You may want to make a policy of reading through this book one chapter at a time, fairly quickly, just to get the gist of some of the legends. Then you can always go back later to fill in your knowledge of all the exotic names, if you want.

   Three side notes to be aware of... When Fa-Hien travels through Khotan, in China, you may want to know that he was among a group of people descended from the pre-historic Indo-Europeans. These people were known as the Tocharians, if you want to do any research on them online. Their words for father and mother, for example, were the very Indo-European "pacer" and "macer," which we can see are almost identical to the Latin "pater" and "mater." Tapestries and old paintings show us that some of the Tocharians were born with red hair -- in China! Also, it's very interesting to read an account of travelling in Peshawar, which we hear about every day on the news these days, from a time two full centuries before Islam even existed! In Fa-Hien's time, Peshawar was Buddhist, and had some of the most magnificent Buddhist shrines in all of the Indian subcontinental region. He writes about some legends behind the shrines, and about the practices of the local monks. Finally, for another somewhat familiar point of reference, watch for what Fa-Hien has to say about Gandhara. Gandhara is a region in northern Pakistan that was once heavily settled and influenced by soldiers of Alexander the Great, about seven hundred years before Fa-Hien passed through. Even today, ancient Gandharan artwork is renowned for combining Buddhist and Greek elements... Actually, the footnotes in this section are a better source of information about Gandhara than what Fa-Hien says, but hey, it's all in there.

   To provide context for this book, it is good to ask what was happening in the rest of the world, at this period. Well, the Roman Empire had only recently (in 380 A.D.) made Christianity its official religion. So, plenty of people who were alive at this time could remember when Rome was still pagan... St. Augustine wrote his blockbuster, smash hit bestseller "The City of God" in 411 A.D. The Roman legions in Great Britain were called home to Rome during this time, in 410 A.D., to help defend Rome against Visigothic invasions. Great Britain, therefore, was basically entirely Celtic. England was not "England" yet in any sense, because the Angles and Saxons didn't even begin invading it until (this is the date given in the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle") 449 A.D. Similarly, France would never have been called "France" at this time, because the tribe it is named after, the Franks, didn't invade it until 418 A.D. In America, this period was right around the beginning of the Mississippi Valley culture.

   At any rate, I only gave this book four stars because it's kind of slow going, with all the funny names. But it's very worth it. Two thumbs up!

3 comments about Blue Guide Southern India.

1. Just returned from my trip to Southern India. I made the mistake of taking only one guidebook with me as they were all quite heavy and unfortunately this was the one I chose. This book is totally useless for a trip to India. Its emphasis is primarily on history and the sites of interest in this region of India. Take with you either Lonely Planet or Rough Guide instead and use the Blue Guide as an adjunct.



2. If you plan on carrying one guide book to Southern India with you on your trip, make sure this is not the one. Gives very detailed descriptions of the historical sites, which is valuable on it's own, but absolutely no assistance with the practicalities of travelling around the country. It will not give any information with regards to hotel, restaurants, local customs, etc. as one would find in those published by Lonely Planet or Rough Guide. Unfortunately this was the guide I grabbed to take with me and it was not helpful at all with assistance once I entered the country.



3. I have spent something like 50 years writing books on India and traveling there. I went to Madura first in 1959. Took a boat once in 1960 from Madras(now Chenai) to Singapore for $10 along ( a 14 days deck passage trip)with 1400 Tamil workers, who wre headed for new lives in Singapore. Ah, the old days ...
   
   Reading these book reviews herein posted I can only lament at the fools, nerds, idiots and generally feckless whimpy and clueless people who now "travel" if that is what you can call travel now to unbelievable, otherworldly places like South India.
   
   This book by George Michel is absolutely the best South Indian Guide ever written on South India ....which takes up the sites, and culture of India that has ever been written. Period. If you want cheap eats and cheap kips buy Lonely Planet, or the Rough Guide. They are your meat and quite good meat at that. If you want to know about South India buy George Michel's book Southern India.
   
   Let me quote one of the clueless and brainless reviews herein posted on this "review column".
   
   By A Customer
   
   "Just returned from my trip to Southern India. I made the mistake of taking only one guidebook with me as they were all quite heavy and unfortunately this was the one I chose. This book is totally useless for a trip to India. Its emphasis is primarily on history and the sites of interest in this region of India. Take with you either Lonely Planet or Rough Guide instead and use the Blue Guide as an adjunct."
   
   And if you are an intrepid soul - if you want another great book - try to scout up the hard to find Murray's Guide to India (begun in the 1880s) called A Handbook to India, Ceylon, etc.( John Murray).
   
   ...

No comments about Discover Delhi.

No comments about The Kapoors: The First Family of Indian Cinema.

1 comments about Travel Talk Hindi & Urdu (Travel Talk).

1. We got this a couple months before our trip to India. The CD was great for self study in the car on the drive home from work and on the flight over. The book that comes with it was small enough that it didnt take up too much room in the pack, and was much lighter and more comprehensive than the one at the back of the Lonely Planet guide! Great for the basics. If you are looking for grammar or any other higher level study, I would advise against this one. Highly recommended for the basics.

4 comments about Travelers' Tales Guides India (Travelers' Tales Guides).

1. A collection of many essays, book excerpts and stories from many different authors about travelling in India. Nearly every aspect of travel in India is covered: heliskiing in the Himalayas, staying at ashrams, being sick, travel in the women's compartment of trains, standing in a monsoon, bicycling from Leh to Pakistan, riding with a truck driver. Some essays cover unique aspects of the society, such as the enterprising dish-wallahs who set up a satellite dish and sell cable tv to an apartment building or two. Several of the source books are now out of print, making this collection particularly valuable



2. This series offers a really nice way of getting insight into India's culture. The stories are well written and entertaining and it covers lots of different aspects of India -- from religion to customs and the way people think. We just returned from a trip to India and brought it along for reading on the flight over.



3. This book gave a great insight into the world of India! It had so much information about things that most people would not ever have the chance to experience. It is great reading!



4. The stories are from all far corners of the country and really
   get to the soul of the region is it set in.
   
   I would highly recommend this book to most people, Indians or
   non-Indians, they would enjoy learning about the country and
   possibly even making travel plans based on the stories and locations
   listed in the book.
   
   I've so far bought four copies of this book and gifted three of
   them to my friends.

1 comments about The Ochre Border: A Journey Through the Tibetan Frontierlands.

1. Justine Hardy a young british adventurer gathered a group of travelers together when the area in Ladakh, India was just opened for recreational travel. She writes a fascinating account of this journey that is well worth reading if you plan any travel in the Indian Himalaya.

   
   She has spent many years working and traveling in India and her love of the country and affection for the many who assisted her on this innovative journey is apparent. Well worth the effort if you can find this out of print book

2 comments about Nanda Devi Affair.

1. Aitken's records his passionate love affair with Nanda Devi, India's tallest mountain, in this fascinating book. The striking geographical feature of Nanda Devi has spawned a religious cult in the surrounding region and the peak is considered a manifestation of Parvati, the consort of the Hindu God, Shiva.

   Aitken's narrative is rich in cultural and spiritual insights and embellished with numerous interesting accounts of human interaction with the Goddess and her fortress - the Nanda Devi sanctuary, a wild paradise surrounded by a cirque of giant mountains. The author's own journeys into the domain of his beloved reveal his love for the Indian Himalaya and his desire to unravel the numerous mysteries surrounding the Devi - historical, geographical and mythical.

   Aitken's writing is evocative and his passion rubs off on the reader. A must read for lovers of mountains as well as those interested in Hinduism.




2. aitken is a master story teller . and this is one of his finest works . he effortlessy combines his love for the mountains ,his profound knowledge of local customs ,humorous takes on hill gossip and his deep understading of the psychology of the hillman .to top it all , he is drawn to the hills not by a desire to conquer them , as many have , but by his passion and love for them , which few have .he is a true romantic , in his sense of the word .
   being a native hillman myself ,apart from being a mountain lover, and inspite of having lived there , i was amazed to find a foreigner who could read and sense the himalayas ( and all that they behold)so well .
   lets hope that aitken's book helps change the attitude of mountaineers who go through their routines mechanically , with only a desire to conquer .also hope that aitkens book helps to intensify our love for the mountains .